Latina/o Art:
Gender and Art

Art and Inequality

          According to the definition of feminism, "feminists differ over the sources of inequality, how to attain equality, and the extent to which gender and gender-based identities should be questioned and critiqued." Additionally, feminism believes that gender is not a factor that determines one’s identity or social, economic rights 1. While the Chicano movement is represented by the male heroes, such as Rodolfo "Corky" Gonzales, Jose Angel Gutierrez, or Cesar Chavez, it might not have been successful without the participation of women. During the 1960's and 70's, a new group emerged – Chicana feminists – who expressed their own idea about gender-based discrimination, which they experienced during participation in the Chicano movement 2. Many Chicana feminst artists show their passion through their work; therefore, in order to understand Chicana feminism, it would be necessary to analyze the works of feminist Chicana artists.
           Laura Molina started her life as a feminist artist after the tragic break-up with her boyfriend. According to Laura Molina, "I will use my activism and creativity to end racism, sexism and patriarchy at both a social and interpersonal level. I do not accept a hierarchy of genders because there is no justifiable basis for it and it does not serve me as a woman" 3. In her work "It’s a Boy!" she describes a private moment after abortion that she went through. "Even with the bloody evidence of the end of a pregnancy in close examination, the realization of what has happened will not sink in for a long while; to be blocked out by youthful callousness and bravado, only to come up to haunt the conscious mind of the mature adult over and over again" 4.With a bloody body, she shockingly expresses her desperate feeling and anger at the unfair situation she is experiencing, reminding her of the sterilization process forced on so many Chicana women. Molina conveys that this abortion was also unwanted, and should not have happened.

Laura Molina. "It's a Boy!"

          "Alma Lopez is an artist, activist and visual storyteller working in painting, photo based digital prints, and video. She is internationally recognized for her innovative digital images, which recontextualize cultural icons bringing issues of race, gender and sexuality into relationship with transnationalist myths" 5. In her work "Our Lady" She uses "an image of a forty year old woman with her belly and legs exposed standing on a black crescent moon held by a bare breasted female butterfly angel" 6. The image depicted, the Virgin of Guadalupe, represents the strenght of women around East LA where Lopez grew up 7. She expresses her personal feelings about the iconic Guadalupe, "I was wanting to find a meaningful connection with La Virgen de Guadalupe. I am relating her to the women in my life, my mom, my grandma, my aunt. They had to be strong to survive, like Christ's mother" 8. Images focused on the strength of women, such as the Virgin of Guadalupe, are commonly used throughout Chicana feminist art.

Alma Lopez. "Our Lady."

          Juana Alicia introduces herself "as an artist to be an activist for social justice, human rights and environmental health, and I see the work of parenting and teaching akin to being an artist" 9. She discusses the United Farm Workers that protested the war in Vietnam in her work "A Woman’s Place". The mural is divided into the three sub-stories: evolution, revolution, and transformation. In this work, the butterfly, the central metaphor, symbolizes women who come and participate in the labor movement. "The growth and development of women’s power and leadership has required fierce, intelligent unity and persistence, particularly in the workplace. This metamorphosis has also happened within the family and our societies at large, as women have demanded full citizenship in every sphere of their lives." Normally women are more likely to be weaker than men, so more likely to be abandoned in society. In this work, Juana Alicia is "inspired by the courageous and positive examples of women who risked much to struggle for the welfare of all." Through the strong women, she tries to describe the triumphs of these working women 10.
           Additionally, Yreina D. Cervantez and Cecilia Alvarez utilize their artistic ability as a tool to directly express woman’s rights and other social issues. Using images of women as a metaphors in their work, they easily convey the meanings of their work. For example, Yreina Cervantez uses a woman in her work "La Ofrenda," which is used as a "tribute to the struggle and strength of the farmworkers and all Latinos" that "particularly emphasizes the role of women by spotlighting Dolores Huerta, a longtime leader of the United Farmworkers Union" 11.
          In conclusion, Chicana feminist artists depicted feminism through images of various kinds of women such as strong women, goddess, and the like. Art may have been the best outlet to make their voice heard; it served as a medium that was uncensord and easily distributable to the public.